Smooth-coated Otter
About the Smooth Coated Otter in Singapore
Last updated 3 June 2026
The Smooth-coated Otter (Lutrogale perspicillata) were once extinct in Singapore, but were believed to have returned to mainland Singapore in the 1990s, before eventually establishing a resident breeding population in the 2010s.
Identifying features
Check out some identifying features of the Smooth Coated Otter!
The Smooth-coated Otter is easily recognised by its brown upperparts and lighter, buffy underparts. It has a long body covered in short, sleek fur that shines when wet. Although it looks a bit like the much rarer Asian Small-clawed otter, the Smooth-coated Otter is noticeably bigger in size.
Habitat and ecology
Although once extant from mainland Singapore, the Smooth-coated otter has proven to be adaptable, reestablishing itself on the mainland in recent years.
It mainly feeds on fish, and is associated with habitats with water bodies such as mangroves, ponds, and even urban canals. Within Singapore, multiple family groups of varying sizes have emerged across different regions, with different “clans” sometimes fighting each other for food and territory.
Learn more about the Smooth-coated Otter!
Curious about the Smooth-coated Otter? Here are some interesting articles you can read to learn more about them.
